The guides will tell you and show you the basement of this guesthouse and tell you that it was a slave chamber. IN fact it was built after the slave trade was stopped in Zanzibar and had nothing to do with the slave trade. An expert on the architecture and history of Zanzibar, Prof. Abdul Sheriff has said, with proof, that it was probably built for storage of medicines and was never used for slaves. this fact does not detract from the history of slavery on the island of Zanzibar. But the need for tourists to have a shocking experience seems to have eliminated the facts of this case

We are considering spending +- 10 days in Zanzibar in February 2009. The problem is that it will be at the end of a 3-month world trip and therefore we are going to be on a fairly tight budget. Is Zanzibar suitable for backpacking/fairly cheap travel or should we wait until we have refilled our purses and do it more luxuriously?

If you think we can do it cheaply, any recommendations of places to stay, how to get around etc would be appreciated.

Hello VTers. Hope some of you can help me on this one.
As an exotic honeymoon destination, much of the info I've found today about rooms in Stone Town are aimed at the expensive end of the market. There isn't much left in the kitty, after flights from the UK, a safari and a flight to Zanzibar are paid for.
So, can those of you who have stayed cheaply in Stone Town please suggest places to spend a couple of nights in Late July.
Use whatever method you prefer to contact me. I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Thanks in advance.
Dan.